By Vince Matthew Jaramilla
Standing from the outside of the top four looking in, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Booters extended their struggles after buckling against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 0-3, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s football tournament earlier today, November 12, at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Football Pitch in Quezon City.
The Morayta-based squad gave up first blood in the 12th minute as San Marcelino-based left winger Jemar Andrade found the back of the net from the perimeter of the penalty box, 0-1.
For the remainder of the first half, the Tamaraw Booters found promising possessions, but they resulted in either missed strikes or unfinished plays against the Falcons’ suffocating defense.
The field’s atmosphere heated up further in the second half as the physicality escalated and supposed missed calls by the referees generated noise from both teams’ benches.
However, the higher intensity seemed to press on FEU more as they found themselves at risk of a bigger deficit if not for AdU’s shots sailing over or hitting the top bar of the goal.
Tamaraw Booters head coach Vincent Santos tried switching up the offense by subbing in fresh legs late in the half, including reigning Golden Boot awardee Selwyn Mamon coming off an injury, but they were still unable to get on the scoreboard.
Defensive lapses continued to plague the green-and-gold squad instead as they conceded an easy goal to AdU’s Dany Golike at the 87-minute mark after keeper Jetrick Fabrigas’ save attempt positioned him too far from the goal, 0-2.
With the defeat apparent in the final moments, FEU gave up another goal in the fourth added minute to Falcon striker Marlon Dasig, emphasizing the heartbreaking loss, 0-3.
The Tamaraw Booters fell to a 2-3-4 win-draw-loss record, enough to remain at the fifth spot of the men’s football ladder.
In a post-game interview with FEU Advocate, Coach Santos expressed regret for the players’ wasted opportunities to score.
“I think we gave ourselves chances, but football is that way. You don't convert on your opportunities. And the other team only needs one. What matters aren't the shots on goal but the goals,” he said.
Santos also emphasized the team’s long-standing playoff mindset to win while looking forward to a positive result in their next game.
“We’ve had the mindset of playing each of our last few games already as playoffs but unfortunately, we’ve not been able to deliver the win. We approach [the next game] again with the same [mindset] and hopefully, we get a different result,” the head coach added.
The Morayta-based booters will have to win their remaining games and bank on the losses of third-seeded De La Salle University and fourth-seeded University of Santo Tomas for the best chance of securing a Final Four spot.
FEU’s next must-win game will be against UP on Sunday, November 15, at the same venue.
(Photo by Ma. Louela Luna/FEU Advocate)